Category Archives: Feature Stories

Immigration is an emotional issue, and one that tends to polarize people. Few of us feel neutral about immigration and border issues. Yet the problems of immigration are not going to go away as long as we live in a world where there is extreme poverty and violence in some places and relative safety and material wealth in others.

The 14th edition of the South East European Film Festival (SEEfest) announced today that Moon Hotel Kabul was selected as the Opening Night film for the 2019 festival, running May 1-8 in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. It is the latest film by Romania’s Anca Damian, who won Best Director Award at the Warsaw International Film Festival and the Mirada International Award at the Madrid Film Festival for the film.

Lineup boasts 3 World, 2 North American, 2 U.S. and 11 Los Angeles Premieres; Films to be told in 9 languages 2019 program features an impressive roster of female and first-time filmmakers, as well as festival alumni returning with their latest projects Magazine, Entertainment LOS ANGELES, CA – The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles…

Kashkari was the first Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank president to testify at the Minnesota Legislature. Magazine, Making Money, Jessie Van Berkel Star Tribune Immigration is key to keeping the U.S. economically competitive, Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank President Neel Kashkari told state legislators Tuesday, warning that slower population growth shrinks economic gains. “You can either accept…

When a 21-year-old punk from Mexico City known as Brujo made his way to West Philadelphia in 1998, he found a thriving creative community amid the DIY music venues and improvised artist studios, and a place to live in a once-abandoned house known as Squirrel Squat.

“I found a paradise in West Philly,” he said recently. “It was like 2 a.m., and people said, ‘Brujo, do you want pizza?’ I said, ‘Really? It’s 2 a.m.’ They said, ‘Yeah! Let’s go to the dumpster!’ ”

More recently, a working paper from researchers at George Mason University released this month said that immigrant-owned firms in the tech industry had “uniformly higher rates of innovation” than firms run by U.S. citizens in 15 of the 16 measures they surveyed.

Mental illness is one of the leading causes of suicide in our immigrant communities in the USA and yet we fail to recognize the symptoms and to seek help for those who suffer. At the time of this interview I know of at least one African immigrant who has taken his life and many others in other immigrant communities who suffer as well.

The news of 21 Savage’s detainment by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Feb. 3 elicited a range of reactions.

Most expressed outrage and heartbreak, some made jokes, and others responded with misguided apathy. Citing the thousands of voiceless immigrants who are detained by the U.S. government every single day, the latter portion suggested that paying special attention to 21 Savage’s case took away from those without flourishing rap careers and wealth, whose stories go untold.

Los Angeles- That’s a wrap! This is true as it relates to the first weekend of the Pan African Film and Arts Festival. The festival is currently underway at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza and the adjacent Cinemark RAVE Theatres.
A large diverse audience has been in attendance since the festival commenced on Thursday, February 7th. Everyone agrees that the 27th Annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival is off to a rousing start. The festival got underway with an awesome documentary film about iconic singer Aretha Franklin entitled “Amazing Grace.”
My enjoyment of the festival began with a short film entitled “Colors of Sankofa.” A successful CEO is forced to revisit scars from her past while interviewing candidates for a new second-in-command position. Bullying and identity issues were brought up in the film.